Structural Barriers that Make it Difficult for Private Hire Car Drivers to Leave Sector

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether there are structural barriers that make it difficult for private hire car drivers to leave the sector; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider taking additional steps to address a possible power imbalance between platform operators and private hire car drivers.

Private hire car drivers may face different challenges that make it less easy for them to leave the sector. Some may not possess the right skills to switch to another job. These drivers can tap on Career Conversion Programmes which provide salary and training support to employers to reskill new workers, and the Jobs and Skills Centres, which provide career coaching and advice.

In July this year, the Tripartite Workgroup on Representation for Platform Workers released its recommendations on a framework that would enable representative bodies to represent platform workers, including private hire car drivers, in negotiations with platform operators. The framework will help address possible power imbalance between platform operators and the private hire car drivers.